The bass fishing tournament on Table Rock Lake was one of the many free activities available to Purple Heart Recipients participating in the “Hand-in-Hand Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients” event sponsored by Branson.Com to honor the service and sacrifice of Purple Heart Recipients. As the Purple Heart Recipients registered for the event, at the Factory Merchants Mall on the morning of April 24 they had the opportunity to indicate whether or not they were interested in fishing in the free bass tournament on Table Rock Lake the next morning. Later that afternoon, during the Opening Ceremony at the Hamner Barber Theatre, 25 names were drawn for the 25 spots available in the tournament.

 

The event was made possible through the combined efforts of a lot of people, but would have been impossible but not for the 25 “Boaters,” both guides and tournament fishermen, professionals and nonprofessionals, who volunteered their time, boats, skill, equipment, bait etc. Of the 25 names drawn 11 actually braved the windy and choppy waters of Table Rock and competed in the tournament.

 

One of the “Boaters,” Jeff Griffith, is a Sergeant First Class on active duty in the U.S. Army stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood who competes in local tournaments primarily in the Lake of the Ozarks and Truman Lake area. He said he had heard about the tournament, wanted to be part of honoring the Purple Heart Recipients, volunteered and came down from Ft. Leonard Wood to participate. Purple Heart Recipient, Wayne Joiner, from Midland Texas, who fished with Griffith expressed his thanks for the event and said, “It was wonderful.”

 

The special three hour tournament format started with the “take off” at 8:00 a.m. and ended with the “weigh-in” at 11:00 a.m.” The Master of Ceremonies for the weigh-in was Mike Webb, a professional bass guide and a founder of K.A.S.T., “Kids Are Special Too,” a program designed to introduce kids to the outdoors as an alternative to drugs. The “Weigh-master” was Jim Thompson, owner of the Central Pro-Am Association, who also provided the personnel and equipment to tabulate the results and manage the fish to insure that they were returned to the lake in a healthy condition so that they could be caught again another day.

 

As the weigh-in proceeded it became obvious that the fishing had been tough. Of the 11 teams competing, no team caught more than one bass. But, more important and just as obvious, was the smiles on the faces of the Purple Heart Recipients who fished and their “Boaters” and the enthusiasm, affection and respect of the fans watching the weigh-in.

 

First place went to the team of Russ Mulsberry, Boater, and Harold Young, Purple Heart Recipient, with one bass weighing 3.36 pounds. Mulsberry, who Webb said was instrumental in getting a lot of the “Boaters” for the tournament, said they used a spinner bait and McCoy line to catch the winning fish. For their first place finish Young was awarded a $500.00 gift card. At the Opening Ceremony the day before, Young also won a helicopter ride to and from the tournament furnished by Chopper Charter.

 

With the “Boater” listed first, followed by the Purple Heart Recipient and the weight of the fish caught, the remaining tournament results for the first seven places are as follows: Second, Eric Prey and Aaron Wintterle, 3.05 pounds; Third, Tom Spence and John Porter, 2.85 pounds; Fourth, Paul Willet and Mickey Parent, 2.81 pounds; Fifth, Jeff Walker, Larry Fenimore, 2.66 pounds; Sixth, Jeff Griffith and Wayne Joiner, 2.61 pounds and Seventh, Gary Malkin and Luis Vargas, 2.57 pounds. The teams of Bill Pallister and Henry Pierre, George Quest and Raymond Wheeler, Tom Mcinnsh and Steve Jensen and Dwight Caldwick and Murl Hicks also competed but weighed in no fish.

 

For all involved, it wasn’t about numbers of fish caught or pounds and ounces; it was about honoring and respecting those who deserved it and providing them with a special fishing experience. In that regard, Purple Heart Recipient Joiner perhaps summed it up best when he said, “It was wonderful.”